The material makes the difference
Squishies may look alike from the outside, but the difference is in the material. It decides how it feels, whether it springs back fast or slowly, whether it makes a sound and how far you can stretch it. Once you know which material you like, you know exactly where to look.
That is why we have split the range into ten types. Below we go through them one by one.
The ten types of squishies
1. Butter squishies
The best known of them all, and for good reason. A butter squishy is shaped like a stick of butter and made of slow rise material. You squeeze it flat and watch it slowly return to its original shape. That slow spring back is exactly what makes it so calming. There are tie dye, galaxy, rainbow and gold versions by now, and four sizes from mini to XL. Want to know more? Read what a butter squishy is and what it costs.
2. Sugar squishies
A sugar squishy is see-through and filled with a jelly-like substance, often with glitter in it. You can stretch it far and you can see the filling move as you squeeze. They are heavier in your hand than foam squishies and feel cool to the touch.
3. Slow rise squishies
With a slow rise squishy it is all about the spring back. You press it in and it takes a few seconds before it is back in shape. The material is soft foam. This type comes in the widest range of shapes: bread rolls, croissants, pastries, animals and fruit.
4. Crunchy squishies
The crunchy squishies have a grainy filling that crunches the moment you squeeze. So here the sound matters just as much as the feel, which is exactly why they do so well in ASMR videos. From the outside they look like an ordinary butter or soap squishy.
5. Vaseline squishies
A vaseline squishy is the stretchiest type. The filling is thick and syrupy, so you can pull it out very far and it flows back on its own afterwards. Heavier and smoother than foam.
6. Cheese squishies
The cheese squishies are shaped like a block or wedge of cheese and come in three materials: light PU foam, firmer TPR and a stretchy vaseline version. Worth knowing, because you feel that difference straight away. PU is airy, TPR is firmer and stretches further.
7. Mystery squishies
With a mystery squishy you do not know which version or colour you will get. With over a hundred products this is the largest group, and that is exactly what makes it fun to collect or trade. The material differs per product, so check which type it belongs to.
8. Animal squishies
Anything with a snout, a paw or a tail sits with the animal squishies. Capybaras, axolotls, geese, dogs, farm animals. Some are slow rise, others are stretchy, so here you mainly choose on what you like the look of.
9. XL squishies
The XL squishies are the extra large versions you can squeeze with both hands. More material also means the spring back takes longer, so they really do feel different from the small ones.
10. Fidget toys
Strictly speaking not squishies, but they belong in the same corner: the fidget toys. Spinner balls, clicking keyboards, putty, wacky tracks. For when you would rather have something to fidget with than something to squeeze.
Which squishy suits you?
A few rules of thumb to help you choose faster:
- If you mainly want the calming feel of a slow spring back, go for slow rise or butter.
- If you are after sound and ASMR, crunchy squishies are the ones.
- If you like stretching and seeing what happens inside, look at sugar and vaseline.
- If you like collecting or trading, mystery is the most fun, because every order is a surprise.
- If you want something for your pencil case, take a mini size. If you want something solid for both hands, go XL.
Want to compare in more detail? In our article on slow rise, crunchy or jelly we put the materials side by side. Still not sure? Then simply browse the full range on the squishies page and filter on whatever appeals to you.
How do you keep a squishy looking good?
Squishies last a long time as long as you are a little careful with them. Squeeze gently and do not fold it in half. Do not stretch it out completely or pull hard on it either, because that is what tears the soft material fastest. Store it dry and out of direct sunlight and the colour stays nice. All the tips are in how to keep a squishy in one piece.
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Tip: het materiaal staat bij elk product in de omschrijving. Weet je eenmaal welk materiaal je fijn vindt, dan kun je daar voortaan meteen op zoeken.
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